Financial Aid

Understanding College Financial Aid

Not every high school athlete will receive an athletic scholarship. Having a financial backup plan for college is a great idea. There are plenty of other options available to help pay for your education. Financial aid is intended to make up the difference between what your family can afford to pay and what college costs. The majority of full-time students currently enrolled in college receive some type of financial aid to help pay college costs.

Millions of high school students borrow money every year to help pay for college, but most borrow without reading these very important tips! Make sure you know what you are signing! These tips will prepare you with the process of applying for and borrowing money through financial aid.

FAFSA is the application used by nearly all colleges and universities to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs. This section covers how to start the FAFSA process and the documents you’ll need.

All students are expected to contribute towards the cost of their college education. How much you and your family will be expected to contribute depends on your financial situation—and is what is referred to as your Expected Family Contribution or EFC.

The cost of college rises each year a few percentages, which means most families need to take loans out to help pay for college. Nearly every student is eligible for some sort of financial aid, including loans. This section examines the different type of college loans.